Hollywood star Julia Roberts is quintessentially known as America’s sweetheart for her charming personality, charisma, and roles that have established a connection between her and audiences.

Following her big breakthrough in Pretty Woman, Roberts has gone on to star in many commercial blockbusters in different genres including dramas, romantic comedies, and action thrillers, while also proving that she has the acting chops with her Oscar win for Erin Brockovich.

Oscar winner Julia Roberts

Over the years, The Ocean’s Eleven star has also shared screen space with many A-listers. In 2013, Julia Roberts starred in the drama August: Osage County with Benedict Cumberbatch and Meryl Streep.

While the Notting Hill star had many memorable experiences with Streep whom she admired and looked up to, a few scenes in which she had to physically attack her co-star, made her feel guilty and uncomfortable.

Julia Roberts Faced A Dilemma While Acting With Meryl Streep

Two of America’s most popular actors Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep starred together in 2013’s August: Osage County, a story about a group of sisters reuniting with their mother after the death of her husband.

The two Oscar winners who played mother and daughter in the film shared a great rapport off-screen with Roberts revealing that she was a huge fan of Streep, her work, and the person that she was.

Julia Roberts is a fangirl of Meryl Streep

This camaraderie posed a problem for the Erin Brockovich star as her on-screen character’s relationship with Streep’s character was volatile and complicated.

This resulted in segments where Roberts had to physically attack the Sophie’s Choice actor according to the demands of the script. Expressing her reluctance and guilt at performing these scenes with her idol, Julia Roberts said,

“Choking her, and things like that, were not how I pictured it going in my mind all these years. I thought we’d be together, having tea and speaking in fabulous accents all dressed up. Attacking her physically was… just… awful. I felt like a terrible person who would truly go to hell. I might actually go to hell now, I’ve attacked her so many times,”

Despite this emotional dilemma, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep proved their professionalism by turning in impressive performances which resulted in both actors getting Oscar nominations for that year.

Julia Roberts Was Moved By The Script Of August: Osage County

2013’s August: Osage County starring Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, was an emotional drama that was based on a play by the same name.

The two stars who played a mother and daughter with a complicated relationship, received Oscar nominations for their powerful performances. Roberts spoke about the reasons behind accepting the film despite having decided to slow down and concentrate on family life.
“It’s increasingly rare for me to find things that challenge me as an actor because the challenge of my personal life, and how fulfilling I find it, is tough to compete with. So a piece like this was a dream come true,”

Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep in August: Osage County

Having read the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and being moved by the story of the family depicted, Julia Roberts revealed that she was inspired to take on the role and explore the various grey shades that existed in every mother-daughter relationship.